High-Frequency Ultrasonographic Characterization of Subcutaneous Glomus Tumors

To evaluate the clinical manifestations and ultrasonographic characteristics of glomus tumors under the nails and other subcutaneous soft tissues.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 45 patients with pathologically confirmed glomus tumors who underwent ultrasonographic examination at our institution between October 15, 2019, and April 8, 2025. Twenty tumors were in subungual and 25 were in extrasubungual subcutaneous tissue. Clinical parameters and ultrasonographic findings by a linear transducer (15-18 MHz) were systematically documented.

Among the 45 glomus tumors, the maximum tumor diameter ranged from 0.2 to 2.8 cm. Ultrasonographic features showed that 93.3% of lesions were hypoechoic, 88.9% exhibited regular shapes, 84.4% displayed well-defined borders, 73.3% showed rich vascularity, and 59.1% featured a perilesional "vascular stalk sign." Eighty percent of subungual glomus tumors presented with adjacent osseous involvement.

The characteristic ultrasonographic presentation of subcutaneous glomus tumors comprises a hypoechoic mass with regular contours, distinct margins, and abundant internal vascular flow. Perilesional osseous changes can usually be observed in subungual glomus tumors.